April 2012

March 2012

The PCPartPicker Build Series highlights different computer builds several times a month. Sets of components are assembled, benchmarked, and reviewed, covering different price points and use cases from basic browsing to gaming.

For this set of requirements, a light-to-moderate amount of CPU power is necessary. While a single core can likely handle the load, dual cores provide a bit of processing power headroom. An Intel Pentium G620 CPU is efficient and inexpensive, and provides plenty of CPU power.

Since the Intel G620 CPU contains an integrated video controller, onboard video can be used by choosing the proper chipset. A Biostar H61MU3 motherboard hosts an H61 chipset, which supports onboard video when paired with a CPU that has integrated video (such as the G620). The onboard video is used for OS installation, configuration, and occasional maintenance, so a separate video card is not necessary. All other interaction is done over the network via SSH.

As the number of hard drive images stored on the device is only likely to increase, there needs to be plenty of space for additional drives. The NZXT Source 210 case handles this requirement with ease as it provides eight 3-1/2" internal drive bays. While the Biostar H61MU3 motherboard only hosts 4 SATA ports, additional ports can always be added via a separate SATA controller card.

Powering everything is a Cooler Master 450W power supply. At 450 watts, the supply is a bit overkill for the power draw of the components. However, it provides plenty of headroom in case all eight drive bays are populated.